He went into town
office.

The constable followed and laid a paper before him. It was a petition
of citizens for a special town-meeting; and there being a sufficient
number of names on the paper, it became a matter of duty for Cap'n
Sproul to call the meeting prayed for.

He quietly proceeded to draw up the necessary notice. Nute evidently
expected that the Cap'n would promptly understand the meaning of the
proposed meeting and would burst into violent speech. But the
selectman hummed an old sea chanty while he hunted for a blank, and
smiled as he penned the document.

"Committee has been to Squire Alcander Reeves to get some law on the
thing," proceeded Nute, disappointed by this lack of interest in
affairs. "Reeves says that since the show was advertised as a town
shindig the town has got to stand behind and fid up for the money
that's shy. Says it ain't supposed to fall on the committees to pay
for what the town's beholden for."

"Let 'em go ahead and settle it to suit all hands," remarked the first
selectman, amiably. "As the feller used to sing in the dog-watch:

"'Says Jonah, addressin' the whale, "I wish
You'd please take notice that I like fish."
Says the whale to Jonah, "It's plain to see
That you are goin' to agree with me."'"

A considerable gathering of the taxpayers of Smyrna had been waiting
on the platform of Odbar Broadway's store for the first selectman
to appear and open the town office. Hiram Look had marshalled them
there. Now he led them across the square and they filed into the
office.

The Cap'n did not look up until he had finished his work on the notice.
He handed the paper to Nute with orders to post it after the
signatures of the two associate selectmen had been secured.

Then to his surprise Hiram Look received an extremely benignant smile
from the Cap'n.

"You ain't objectin' any to the special town-meetin', then?"
inquired Hiram, losing some of his apprehensiveness.

"I'm callin' it as quick as the law will let me--and happy to do so,"
graciously returned the first selectman.

Hiram took off his tall hat with the air of one who has been invited
to remain, after anticipating violent rebuff.

"You know, don't you, what the voters want this special meetin' for?"

"Sartin sure," cried the Cap'n. "Got to have money to square up bills
and take the cuss off'm this town of welchin' on a straight
proposition to outsiders who came down here all in good faith after
pr